Treating chamber



Aug. 11, 1942. R. PYZEL 2,292,716A

TREATING CHAMBER f TREATING HAMBER Filed oct. 2o, 1938 4 sheets-sheets O0 O 00000 O0 O0 000000000900 Aug.11',1942. R'F'YZELv 2,292,716

TREATING CHAMBER Filed oct. 2o, 1958 i4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Aug. lil, 1942 TREATING CHAMBER Robert Pizel, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products, Company,

tion of Delaware Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Application October 20, 1938, Serial No. `236,043

9 Claims.

, The invention particularly relates to a means for releasably supporting beds of finely divided solid or semi-solid materials such as catalyst, filtering material and the like in treating vessels such as catalytic reaction chambers, filtration or treating chambers and the like.

Many processes now employed in the refining treatment and/or catalytic conversion of hydrocarbon oils, as well as in other industries, involve the use of beds of substantially solid materials such as diatomaceous earth, filtration clays', fullers earth, granular or extruded or pelleted catalytic material and the like. such materials frequently depends to a great extent upon the porous structure of the particles and the extended contract surface which the pores provide. In most cases, such porous materials are' rather weak structurally and tend to disintegrate or become powdered in use, whereby their activity is materially decreased or destroyed. This is particularly true when rela- The eiciency of tivelyy deep beds are used, since the weight of.

the material in the bed itself often exceeds the structural strength of the porous *solid particles which compose the bed. Destruction of the particle structure by crushing is particularly pronounced when the process is conducted at super'- atmospheric pressure and the vaporous,-gaseou's or liquid materials undergoing treatment are passed downwardlythrough a relatively deep bed of the treating or catalytic material, since there will be a material pressure drop between the top .and bottom of the bed due to the resistance to` fiow offered by the bed. y Y

Catalytic and treating materials of the character above mentioned Abecome poisoned, con'- taminated or spent upon continued use and must be periodically `removed from the chamber and replaced with new or revived material.. This is usuallyaccomplished by dumping the material from the lower portion of the vessel through a man-way opening or the like provided in the lower portion thereof and equipped with a removable cover plate or flange. When the bed is supported upon this removable cover plate or flange, the material composing the bed will, of course, be discharged from the vessel upon the removal of the cover plate or flange therefrom. It is frequently desirable to remove the cover plate or flange from the vessel without discharging the bed; for example, in case leaks develop at the joint where the flange or cover plate joins andV the main body or man-way nozzle of the vessel, in order to remedy the leak by renewing a gasket or regrinding a joint at this point in the vessel.

The presentinvention provides means of overcoming both of the difficulties above mentioned: The use of an excessively deep bed of catalytic or treating material is avoided by providing one or more intermediate supporting decks or the like in the chamber upon which separate shal-v lower beds of the material may rest. In order to permit dumping the material which composes the bed, the supporting decks or the like' are preferably made removable or collapsible by releasably securing them to the `walls of the vessel. Preferably, the support for the lowermost bed inl the vessel does not comprise and is not supported on the removable cover plate or flange, but is releasably secured to the Walls of the vessel or the -walls of the man-way opening whereby the cover plate or flange may be removed without disturbing the bed.

The accompanying Y diagrammatic drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive, illustrate several specific means contemplated by the invention for overcoming the difliculties above mentioned, in the manner described.

Figure l of the drawings is a cross-sectional elevation of a vessel containing beds of finely divided solid.treating or catalytic material, with means for independentlysupporting each of the beds from. the walls of the vessel and means for releasing each of said supporting means whereby the material comprising said beds may be discharged fromv the lower portion of the chamber. y

Figure 2 is a plan view off the folding deck of Fig. 1 taken along a plane indicated by line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the securing mechanism I4 of Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate modified forms of the securing mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure lis a cross-sectional elevation of the upper portlonpf a vessel such as a reaction or treating chamberV illustrating another specific means of releasably securing a folding deck to the walls of the vessel.

Figures 8,. 9 and 10 are, respectively, a side elevation,"a front elevation and a sectional plan view of elements of Figure 2 which releasably secure the folding section of deck 30 to the walls of the' vessel. The section of Figure 10 is taken along the plane indicated by the line llll0 in Figure 8.

Figure -ll is a cross-sectional elevation of th `upper portion of a chamber illustrating another specitc manner' of releasably securing a-folding upper deck, which supports the upper bed of catalyst or treating material, to the walls of the vessel.

Figure 12 is a plan view of collapsible deck 30 of Figures 7 and 11 showing the deck in place in the chamber and taken along a plane indicated by line I2-I2 in Figure 1l.

Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of a vessel such as a reaction or treating chamber illustrating another specific manner of releasably supporting a perforated cone, similar to that indicated at 25 in Figure 1, from the walls of the vessel.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of the vessel, such as a reaction or treating chamber, illustrating another specic manner of releasably supporting a conical member,

.' similar to that indicated at 25 in Figure l from the walls of the vessel.

Figures 16 and 17 are, respectively, an enlarged elevational view, and an enlarged plan view of the locking and releasing mechanism shown in Figure 15. Figure 16 is shown partially in cross section, the section being taken along a plane indicated by line lli-I6 in Figure 17.

Referring to Figure 1, the main body of the cylindrical chamber is indicated in cross-section at I. It is provided with a lower man-way nozzle '2, a man-way nozzle 3, entering the side of the chamber adjacent its upper end ancl an inlet nozzle 4 at the top of the chamber through which vaporous, gaseous or liquid material to be treated is admitted. The treated products are discharged from the lower portion of the chamber through outlet connection 5 in removable ilange 6 of man-way 2.

A bed 1 of relatively small solid particles such as catalyst, treating material, ltering material or the like is disposed within the upper portion of the chamber and supported upon a perforate collapsible deck 8 disposed at an intermediate point in the length of the chamber. A bed 9 of relatively coarse material such as crushed stone or gravel, for example, is provided between the collapsible deck 8 and bed 1 in order that relatively large openings may be provided through deck 8 for the passage of materials bers I4, which bar or rod is normally held in an engagement with the lower edge of the adjacent section of the collapsible deck to furnish support for the same. In its normal position, flanged section I6 of member I5 bears against a gasket I1 provided in the outer shell I8 of member I4 to prevent leakage to or from the vessel, the baragainst a suitable collar or head 2| provided at the outer end of bar I5 and forces the inner end of bar I6 out of engagement with the adjacent deck section. Bar I5 and member 20 assume the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 when member I 9 is partially unscrewed from the housing and the deck sections drop to the approximate position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l, thereby releasing the materials which compose beds 9 and 1 and allowing them to drop out of the chamber through lower man-way 2.

Suitable cables or light chains indicated at 22 in Figure l may be attached, at one end of each, to one side of the sections of the collapsible deck 8 and attached at their opposite endsby means of link or loop 23 to a suitable hook or the like 24 attached, for example, to the walls of man-way nozzle 3. This permits raising the folding sections of the collapsible deck 8 to a horizontal position after they have been released from I4, whereafter bars I5 are re-engaged with the sections of the deck t0 hold the latter in position, permitting beds 9 and 1 to be replaced.I As indicated in Figure 1, suiiicient undergoing treatment and still retain the relatively small solid materials, which compose bed .1, in place above the deck.

Collapsible deck 8, in the particular case here illustrated, comprises two semi-circular sections I0 of grating or the like., This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2 and, as shown in this figure, the semi-circular sections are hinged at II and II' by means of rod I2 which is mountedl in suitable lugs I3 which are welded or otherwise secured in any desired manner to the cylindrical side wall I of the chamber at opposite ends of a diametral line passing through the chamber. Sections I0 and I0 of the grating areof flange 6.

slack may be provided in members 22 to allow the deck sections to drop upon retraction of bars I5.

As indicated in Figure 1, beds 1' and 9', similar to beds 1 and 9, are provided in the lower portion of the chamber and these beds, as here indicated, are preferably supported independently This-is accomplished, in the case here illustrated, by means of a supporting structure such as perforated cone 25, for example, which in turn, is supported from the walls of the chamber, its lower edge resting at two spaced points on its circumference on lugs such as indicated `at 26 which are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the walls of man-way nozzle 2 and at a third spaced point on its circumference by bar I5 of another member I4, such as previously described.

After flange 6 is unbolted from the man-way nozzle, beds 9 and 1' may be discharged through the man-way opening, when desired, by retract- 'ing bar I5 of the member I4 associated with cone 25. This allows cone 25 to slip from lugs 24 and drop out of the chamber. The base of cone 25 is somewhat smaller in diameter than the inside of man-way opening 2 so that it will readily slip from lugs 26 and pass through man-way 2 when bar I5 is retracted and so that it may be readily replaced on the lugs 26 and held in position by engaging it with bar I5 of the adjacent member I4.

It will, of course, be understood that beds 1 and 9 mayr be dropped upon bed 1' and the mass of materials comprising beds 1, 9, 1 and 9' dumped from the chamber by removing ilange 6 and cone 25. Preferably, however, beds 1' and 9' are rst dumped by removing flange 6 and cone 25 while Iof Figure l, is provided e or similar to beds indicated in Figure 'ends on the supporting lugs I3' f suitable elongated relatively flexible members.l indicated at l33 in Figure '1 and here shown as the folding sections of deck 8 are retained in -a horizontal position'and beds 1 and I are subsequently dumped by releasing the sections of deck l from the supporting bars ,I of theadjacent members I4.

The modined form of the retractable securingdevice shown in Figure 4 comprises a shell 12 which may be welded, as shown, or otherwise attached to wall I of the vessel in the same position as device I4 of Figure 1 is attached. Rod 13, which engages the lower edge of the foldable deck sections, is attached to or integral with plug 15, the threaded portion 14 of which engages av threaded recess in the outer end of shell 12; As here illustrated. machine threads are employed at 14 and a gasket 18 is interposed between a threaded end of the plug 'i6 and the bottom of the recess in member 12 to prevent leakage. In Figure 4, rod 13 is retracted to release the foldable deck section by unscrewing plug 15.

`The modied form of retractable securing device shown in Figure 5 comprises a shell 11 which isv attached, by welding, as illustrated, or in any other suitable manner, to the wall I of the vessel in the same position as memberV I4 of Figure 1. The inner end of rod 18 engages the foldable deck section and is attached at its outer end by welding or any other suitable manner to a cap 13 which is threaded onto the outer end of shell "11. In the particular case here illustrated,'machine threads are employed in the cap and on the shell and a gasket 80 is interposed between the outer end of ythe shell and the head of the cap to preventl leakage. By unscrewing cap 19 from shell 11, rod 18 is retracted .and the foldable deck section, which it supports, is released.

The modified form of deck securing device f of the various members when the deck is retained shown in Figure 6 comprises a shell 8i which'is welded or attached in .any other suitable manner to shell I of the vessel in the same position es device i4 in Figure 1. Red e2 extends through the bore of shell 8l to engage the foldable deck section within the vessel and the device is sealed from leakage by cap 83 which, in this particular case, is provided with a tapered pipe thread corresponding to the threaded outer end of shell 8I. With the device shown in Figure 6, the foldable deck section is released by removing cap 83 from Ashell 8| and driving rod 82 through the shell into the chamber by means of a smaller rod, driftpin or the like, not illustrated. e

In Figure 7 the cylindrical walls of thev reaction or treating chamber are again indicated at I and the collapsible deck 30, similarv to deck 8 in the central portion of the chamber.

Although omitted from Figure 4, beds the same 1and8ofFigure1maybedisposed above deck 30 and retained in place thereby when the latter is held in a horizontal position. Suitable perforated plates, grating or the like indicated at 3| are provided as apart of deck 38 for retaining relatively coarse materials such asthatofbed8inFigure1.

The construction of deck 38 is more clearly 12. It comprises two substantially semi-circular ports aperforated semi-circular plate or grating 3l. The ends of the semi-circular framing members overlap and lengage hinge bar I2' which, like bar I2 of Figure 1, is disposed at its opposite attached to the walls of the chamber.

' of the vesse1 chains, serve as a means of supporting the collapsible sections of deck 38 in a horizontal position from the walls of the chamber. Metal cable or bars with suitable flexible joints may be employed instead of chains 33, when desired. One end-ot each of the chains 33 is attached by suitable means such as eyebolt 34 to one section of deck 30 and is retained at its opposite end by means of an elongated link or the like 35 in slot 3l of member 31 which, in turn, is attached by welding or in any other suitable manner to the walls of the vessel.

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, slot 36 of member 31, as shown in Figure 8, is hook-shaped at its upper end and when the upper end of link 35 is retained in this hook-shaped upper end of slot 36 the sections of deck 3l) are retained in a horizontal position. To collapse the deck, lever 38, whichfis hinged, as indicated at ,39 to member 31, is raised from a horizontal to a substantially vertical position, l' lifting the upper end of link 35 out of the hook-shaped section of slot 35 and allowing it to drop to the bottom of the slot. Member 31, as indicated in Figures 8 and 9, comprises two metal plates spaced a sufficient distance apart to accommodate the end of level 38 by means of members 40, the upper one of which serves as a stop for lever 38 to retain it iny a position at which lit may be readily grasped through man-way opening 3 (see Figure 7).

'I-'he position to which lever 38 is moved to allow link 35 to dropto the lower end of slot 36 and the position of link 35, chain 33 and the folding section of deck 30, when released, is indicated on' the right-hand side of Figure '1. The position in horizontal position is indicated on the lefthand side of Figure 7.

In Figure 1l another specic manner of releasably supporting collapsible deck 30 fromv the walls is illustrated. It is much the same as that illustrated in Figure 7, except that the mechanism illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 is omitted, being replaced, in part, by lug 44. The

chamber illustrated in Figure 1l is similar to that of Figures l and '7, except that the upper manway nozzle 3' is attached to the upper head of frames 32 and 32', each vof which is constructedof metal angles and supthe vessel and inlet connection 4' is attached to removable ange 45 of man-way 3.

In Figure 11, chain 46 has two legs, one of which is attached to section 32 of deck 3u and the other of which is attached to section 32 of deck 30. A link 41 engages chain 46 with'lug 44 in such a manner that sections 32 and 32 of deck 3B are held in a horizontal position. Link 41 is prevented from slipping from lug 46 by means of removable pin 48 inserted through an n opening provided in the lug and, in the particular case here illustrated, pin 48 is attached by means of chain 49 or the like to the walls of the vessel so .that it will not be lost when removed from the opening. Upon the removal of pin 48 from chain 4B, lug 41 may be forced -from the latter by inserting Va suitable bar or lever, not illustrated, between the link and the walls of the vessel and prying the link from the'lug. This releases the sides of deck 30, lallowing sectionsv 32 and 32' to drop to a substantially vertical position. Preferably, chain 46 has a section 43' attached to link 41 and to a suitable hook or the like 58 which is attached to the walls of the vessel at the upper man-way opening. This section 43 of the chain is of sufficient length to perl i mit collapse of the grating when link 41 is removed from lug 46 and by attaching the chain to hook 50, its end is retained in a position such that it may be readily grasped through man-way cated at 25 in Figure 1, is here shown. 'Ihe walls' of the lower man-way nozzle are again indicated at 2. The position of cone 25' is shown in Figure 14 by dotted lines.

'I'hree lugs 52, 52 and 53 are provided and attached by welding or any other suitable manner to the walls of the man-way opening at spaced points about its circumference. A rodA or bar 54 extending between lugs 52 and 52 is supported thereby at its opposite ends in semi-cylindrical sockets 55 and 55.

A link or substantially C-shaped member 56 is hingedly supported at one end in an open notch 51 provided in member 53 and the opposite end of member 56 rests upon bar 54.

The position of cone 25' is indicated in .Figure 14 by the dotted lines 25' and the bottom of .this

cone rests upon lugs 52 and 52 and upon the end of C-shaped member 56 which is adjacent lug 53.

Member 56 is provided with a handle 58 and fulcrum lugs 59. To release thecone and dump the material which it supports from the chamber, the end of member 56 which rests on rod 54 is lifted by handle 58 and rod 54 lifted from sockets 55 and removed from the assembly. Fulcrum lugs 59 of member 56 are then brought back against the adjacent side walls of the manway nozzle and member 56 is used as a lever whereby the ends thereof disposed in notch 51 are retracted therefrom. When this is done, the side of cone which rests upon member 56 is released and slips down past lug 53 by virtueof slot 60 provided in the cone. This causes the opposite side of the cone to slip from lugs 52 and 52'- and fall from the chamber. The method of replacing the various members of the assembly will be apparent and is virtually the reverse of that whereby the cone is released.

As'indicated in Figure 13, the lower edge of cone 25 is reinforced by circumferential rod 6i which is also slotted to correspond to slot 60 of the cone. Neither rod 6I, handle 58 nor lugs 59 are essential. l

Referring now to Figure 15, wherein the walls of the lower man-way nozzle are again indicated at 2 and the cone which supports the lower bed of treating or polymerizing material is indicated at 25", spaced lugs, one of which is shown at 63, support oneside of cone 25". Releasable mechanism for supporting the other side of the cone is substituted for that -shown in Figures 13 and 14. This mechanism comprises a substantially U- shaped link 64 hinged at its ends to members 65 which are attached by welding or any other suitable manner to wall 2 of the man-way nozzle. Link 64 is normally held in a substantially horizontal position by means of a wedge 66 and, when 0 7 -prevent crushing of said particles, said means page of wedge 66 but the slightly recessed portion 61 provides additional security. Preferably, the upper edge of depression 61 is well rounded vso that by supplying a substantial downward force to wedge 66, it will be removed. This is accomplished, in the case here illustrated, by providing a link 63 passing lthrough a hole 63 provided in the lower portion of wedge 66 and extending beneath the face of the lower man-way nozzle when the removable ange is detached therefrom. By inserting a pry bar or the like, indicated by dotted lines 10, in the lower end of link 63 and using the adjacent lower edge of a flange 1I as a fulcrum, wedge 66 may be pried downward and released from the assembly, ,allowing link 64y to drop to a substantially vertical position. This causes that side of cone 25 which is supported by link 61 to drop and causes the opposite side of the co'ne to slip from lugs 63, whereby the cone drops from the chamber and the material which it supports is dumped through the man-way opening.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for contacting fluids with a solid rening or catalytic agent comprising a treating vessel containing 4a bed of relatively small solid particles of said agent, upperand lower openings in said vessel, a perforate member at the base of said bed which is supported from the walls of thevessel, in part, by members rigidly attached to said walls and, in part, by a member releasably engaged with said walls adjacent said upper opening.

2. In combination with a treating vessel for contacting iiuid witha solid refining or catalytic agent having a relatively large discharge opening at one end, a cover plate for'said opening releasably secured to the vessel, a perforate member within said vessel, means supporting said perforate member from the walls of the vessel in a position to retain a bed of relatively small solid particles of said agent in the vessel when said cover plate is removed, fluid inlet and outlet means on opposite sides of said bed and means. independent of said cover plate and independent of the releasable securing means for the cover plate, for releasingsaid perforate member from the walls4 of the vessel, whereby to dump said bed said releasing means being detachably secured adjacent said inlet. f

3. In combination with a treating vessel -for passing iiuid through a bed of relatively small solid particles of refining or catalytic agent, fluid inlet and outlet means on opposite sides oi said bed, 'a perforate-retaining member for said bed within the vessel supported, in part, by members rigidly ,attached to the walls of the vessel and, in part, by a member movably engaged with said walls, and means including `said movable member for releasing said retaining member from al position at which it supports said bed said means being located at a point adjacent said inlet.

5. An apparatus for contacting uids with a solid refining or catalytic agent comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical treating vessel containing a mass of relatively small solid particles of said agent, iiuid inlet and outlet means on lopposite sides of said mass; means dividing said mass into a plurality of spaced beds, whereby to divide the weight of said mass and comprising a perforate deck disposed at an intermediate point in the vessel and supported from the walls of the vessel, in part, by members rigidly attached to said walls and, in part, by a member movably by t divide comprising said movable member for releasing engaged with said Walls and means said deck from a position at which it supports the superimposed bed said latter means being releas ably secured to said vessel at a point adjacent said :duid inlet.

5. An apparatus for contacting fluids with a solid rening or catalytic agent comprising a treating vessel containing a bed of relatively small particles of said agent, uid inlet and outlet means on. opposite sides of said bed, a perforate supporting deck for said bed composed of foldable sections, m'eans for supporting said foldable sections from the Walls' of the vessel in a position to retain said bed, and means for releasing certainof said supporting means to permit. collapse of the deck by folding under the weight of said bed said latter means being releasably secured lto said vessel at a point adjacent said iiuid inlet. i

6. An apparatus for contacting fluids with a solid refining or catalytic agent comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical treating vessel containing a mass of relatively'small solid particles of said agent, fluid inlet and outlet means on opposite sides of said mass, means dividing said mass into a plurality of spaced beds, wherethe weight of said mass and prevent crushing of said particles, said means comprising a perforate deck disposed' at an intermediate point in the vessel, said deck comprisa point adjacent said inlet opening adapted to retain said superimposed bed.

7. The apparatus defined the releasable supporting means for said deck comprise elongated flexible members secured at oneend to said foldable sections adjacent the outer edges of the latter andl releasably secured at the opposite end to a portion of the vessel above said bed.

ing foldable sections hinged.to the adjacent walls of the vessel and means releasably supported from 8. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the releasable supporting means for said deck comprise slidable members such as bars or rods movably engaged with said foldable sections of the deck adjacent the outer edges of the latter and movably engaged with the Walls of the vessel said members being releasably attached to said vessel at a point adjacent said inlet.

9. In combination with a treating vessel for contacting uid with a solid refining or catalytic agent, having an inlet opening and a relatively large discharge opening at one end and fluid ln let and outlet means, a cover plate for said discharge opening releasably secured to the vessel, a Vperforate member within said vessel, means supporting said perforate member from the walls Vof the vessel in a position to retain a bed of relaand independent of the releasable securing means for the vcover plate for releasing saidl perforate member from the walls of the vessel.

- ROBERT PYZEL.

in claimy 6, whereini 

